A Black Moon is the name given to an occurrence of the second new moon in a calendar month. Though traditional believers in Wicca do not use the Gregorian calendar system, many modern followers of this religion believe that the second dark moon (i.e., new moon) is a time of great power in the spiritual world, and any magick performed during a Black Moon is especially potent. Many astrologers equate the black moon with a person's dark side.

The chances of two new moons occurring in one month are exactly the same as two full moons occurring in a single month, which tends to be about every 2.5 to 2.8 years. However since you cannot typically see a new moon (except during a solar eclipse), a Black Moon is not usually noticed or recognized.

Black Moon Calendar (1950 - 2024)
-------------------
October 30, 1951
June 30, 1954
January 30, 1957*
March 31, 1957*
October 31, 1959
July 31, 1962
May 30, 1965
December 31, 1967
August 31, 1970
June 30, 1973
January 31, 1976
October 31, 1978
July 31, 1981
May 31, 1984
December 31, 1986
August 31, 1989
June 30, 1992
January 30, 1995*
March 31, 1995*
October 31, 1997
July 31, 2000
May 31, 2003
December 31, 2005
August 30, 2008 <---- Next
July 30, 2011
January 30, 2014*
March 30, 2014
October 30, 2016
August 30, 2019
April 30, 2022
December 30, 2024

Oh, I do like the sound of this. It sounds like a very good time for silence and sleep, two of my favorite dark things. And coming up on the 30th. Still the month of my solar return. There's a nice harmony to that for me.

Do you have any particular plans for celebrating this? As I said, I plan to sleep well, but I am interested in what other people choose to do during special times.

Also known as the "dead" Moon, this is the time when there is no solar reflection, leaving the lunar face in darkness. The dark lasts about three days before the new crescent appears.

Is this the same as the New Moon?

For many, the new Moon begins at the moment of the Sun-Moon conjunction, but for others it remains the dark Moon until that crescent is in view. As the Moon wanes toward those final days of darkness, there's often a turn inward. In those contemplative moments, the inner reality is presented through dreams and waking visions. It's fertile ground for the new Moon intentions to be conjured.

How does the Dark Moon differ from the New Moon?

The dark of the Moon is the most powerful time psychically. It seems to lure us toward the deepest self, the longings of the soul, and restful listening is a great way to receive these messages. It's been compared to the dormant seed under the winter snow, or the cocoon holding the butterfly. You might feel tired, or crave quiet solitude. It's important to make space for the unfolding of the spirit at this time. Like death itself, it's preparation for the new beginning that begins with the crescent.

Are we living in a Dark Moon phase?

In her book, Mysteries of the Dark Moon, Demetra George presented this concept. We live on a dying planet in the sense that her form is changing, from the rainforest floor to the air encircling her. Part of the dark Moon is a break-down of old systems, and letting go, and there's some review going on of how we've been living, what we believe, our relationship with the natural world. The new seeds are being planted, but there's still a lot of uncertainty and fear -- darkness. Seeing this time as a dark Moon period can put it in a broader perspective, with hope for a new beginning.

The Power of the Dark

The dark Moon is private, intimate, richly renewing and full of depth. The waning Moon is a time of letting go, and as you're stripped of what you've known, there's a moment of standing naked, not knowing who you are. This might be what dying is like, an awesome mystery that makes us feel fully awake at that final moment. What comes next, we wonder?

I've found the dark Moon to be the most powerful time for organically unfolding soul-searching. The inner Self starts to grow in power, and make its presence known. Ideally, you can listen, integrate, and set intentions that will bring you into harmony with yourself during the waxing Moon.

Stillness is the key word for the dark Moon. Restful, rich solitude gives you the chance to hear that inner voice. With the lunar face hidden, the intuitive-psychic self takes over. Make space for a clearing of the mind and spirit, so that you can be ready to recieve.

There's a historic pattern of fearing the dark, and denying death. But it's a fact of nature, and if embraced, can be met as the winding down before the next new beginning. The Moon is associated with women, and many Goddesses like Hecate, Kali, Lilith, represent her dark aspect. The dark Moon reminds us of nature's cycles of death and rebirth. The grave and the womb become the same place, a transition when you're held in the mystery beyond physical existence.

Each dark Moon is a chance to be renewed, to experience unknowing, and to gain timeless wisdom. The dark Moon opens a door to the past, and it reaches back far into the collective memory. Make it a sacred time for yourself each month, a time to connect to the great mystery of life.
from astrology.about.com/od/found...kMoon.htm

In real
Black Moon has nothing to do with "dark"side,
it has to do with "deep"side,the depth
of the soul,mind, personality,
which has to be understood and then
it will be just out of any danger ,
Ahem!

In your research, have you found anything relative to the double new or full moons within the 30 days of a sign? Rather than the calendar month, I wonder about that pairing, since it does occur probably about the same frequency as the calendar events.